Cigarette shield



CIGARETTE SHIELD Filed Feb. 21, 1945 INVENTOR;

Patented May 24, 1949 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to smokers articles, and particularly to guards for cigarettes.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a non-inflammable envelope or sheath which may be neatly fitted over the combustible portion of a cigarette and which retains the embers or ashes thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a light-weight, convenient guard of the type mentioned which is porous and does not interfere with the proper consumption of the cigarette.

A further object is to provide a device of the type mentioned which may be expanded radially when compressed longitudinally so as to facilitate the insertion of the cigarette therein and which may be constricted radially when stretched longitudinally so as to firmly engage the combustible portion of the cigarette.

Another object of this invention is to construct a cigarette guard of a bias woven fibre glass ma terial and which has means thereon which pr vent ravelling of the said material.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description and claim, together with the accompanying drawing, in which like parts are referred to and indicated by like reference characters and wherein:

Figure 1 is an enlarged side view of a guard made in accordance with this invention, mounted on a cigarette;

Figure 2 is an end view of the guard, taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 22 of the Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the guard and cigarette, taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 3-3 of the Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a schematic view of the guard and cigarette showing relative dimensions thereof when the guard is expanded radially and when stretched longitudinally;

Figure 5 is a side view of an end portion of the guard;

Figure 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the guard, taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 5 of the Figure 5;

Figure 7 is an enlarged view of a piece of the bias woven fabric of which this guard is made and particularly showing the vents or respira tory openings therein;

Figure 8 is an enlarged end portion of the guard particularl showing an adhesive between certain plies thereof; and

Figure 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view of 2 the guard, taken substantially along the line and in the direction of the arrows 9-9 of the Figure 5.

The guard constituting this invention is made of suitable lengths of tubular woven fibre glass material about three-eighths of an inch in diamter. It is made with a bias weave as shown, is fairly coarse and is from six ten-thousandths to eight ten thousandths of an inch thick. When opened, this forms a sheath-like tubular member which is broadly indicated by the reference character 2E]. The forward end 23 of the tubular member is closed to prevent loose ashes or em- -.bers from falling therefrom. This closure is made by simply moistenin the ravelled loose ends of the tubular member and twisting them as shown in the Figures 1 and 2. The open end 22 of the tubular member 20 is slipped over the combustible portion l5 of the cigarette until it almost reaches the tip I6.

In the drawing, the reference character 20 indicates the guard in its normal position; that is, the position it assumes when fully mounted on the cigarette. The reference character 20a shows the guard expanded radially or enlarged so as to permit the cigarette to be easily inserted.

Figures 6 and 8 illustrate the method of treating the open end 22 in order to prevent it from ravelling. This article is made so that a small portion 3| of the number 20 is folded back as shown to form two plies or layers of material. An adhesive 33 is applied between the layers 20 and 3! and retains the elements in their respective positions.

The opening 22 of the invention cannot be enlarged. The folded end 3! acts as a snuifer. It has been found that if a cigarette having one of these devices on it is left burning without attention, it will stop burning when its embers reach the end 3|. It appears that the sealing or closing of the vents 25 at that point prevents further combustion. It is therefore apparent that this safety feature has considerable merit as well as novelty since it obviously will prevent fires from starting accidentally by smoldering or burning cigarette butts. It also provides a cooler, more comfortable and cleaner and stainless grip for holding the cigarette by the fingers.

When used, the article may be easily slipped over an unlighted cigarette by expanding the same. The cigarette may then be lit through the vents or openings 25 of the guard. This is easily done by holding the end of the cigarette with the guard in a flame and puffing in the regular manner. Since the material is non-inflammable, it cannot be damaged by the flame.

When most of the combustible portion of the cigarette I5 is burned, the guard is removed and the loose ashes may be easily poured therefrom.

Among the many advantages that this guard has over similar prior art devices is the fact that it is strong, flexible and may be carried fiat in the pocket. It is inconspicuous and inexpensive to manufacture. It. is obvious that its use will prevent damage occasionally caused by sparks or embers accidentally dropped from the cigarette. Its use also enables the smokerto more conveniently snufi out the remaining butt and might thereby prevent a more serious damage.

Having thus disclosed the invention in itspreferred form, it should nevertheless be understood that the invention as illustrated and described is illustrative only and is not to be considered in a; limiting sense: astheremay be: various other forms; or; modifications thereof which could reasonabl be considered to come within the: scope).

of the appended claim.

I claim:- A cigarette protector consisting of: a sleeve '4 member having ends and formed of woven noninflammable strands and capable of expanding radially when compressed longitudinally, the said sleeve member strands being spaced to form air or smoke vents when applied to a cigarette, one of the said ends being closed to encase the burning end of the cigarette, the other of the said ends being folded upon itself, and an adhesive between the layers of the fold, fixing and stiffening the. same to prevent radial expansion or contraction and longitudinal stretching thereof.

MICHAEL P. NEWBERGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file. at this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Elbow et: al June 19, 1934 

